Impact of Physical Activity Program upon Elderly Quality of Life at Al-Amara City/Iraq

Abstract

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the physical activities program for the elderly

among the quality of life; to determine association between elderly life qualities with their socio-demographic

data.

Method: A quasi experimental design was carried out from 14th January 2019, to 20th September 2019 in the

city of Al-Amara. A random sample was used to select 6 out of 14 primary health care centers. A purposive

sample was used through inclusion and exclusion criteria include (50) elderly visiting health centers for

therapeutic or preventive reasons. The collected sample was divided equally (25) into two groups of men

and women (study and control group) while the first group underwent an activity program. The data of the

study were collected through the interview method and using the designed tool which contained (3) parts.

Results: The findings of the study show that the two groups have a low level of activity and quality of life

for the elderly before the program is conducted, while after the implementation of the program, the study

group showed a significant improvement in physical activities at a high level score (2.36± 0.209), while the

control group stay in same level score (1.37± 0.183). Quality of life demonstrated very good level score for

post–test in the study group (3.91± 0.436) more than control group (1.73± 0.203).